Free thrombus capturing tool

ABSTRACT

An alienated thrombus capture device  1  comprises a ring portion  12  made of a wire member having foldable elasticity, an flexibly transformable linear stiffener portion  11  that penetrates the ring portion  12 , a porous bursiform portion  13  whose opening edge portion  13   a  is mounted on the ring portion  12  and whose closed edge portion  13   b  is mounted on a part of a distal end side of the stiffener portion  11  and an flexibly transformable support linear member portion  14  that is supported between the stiffener portion  11  and the ring portion  12  in a strained state, and the support linear member portion  14  supports the ring portion  12  in a spread state with a distance between a support portion  14   a  on the stiffener portion  11  and a circumference of the ring portion  12  kept generally constant at least in a state that the ring portion  12  is spread.

FIELD OF THE ART

[0001] This invention belongs to a medical equipment field, more specifically relates to an alienated thrombus capture device that is preferably used for transcutaneous treatment to a blood vessel.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Recently circulatory diseases such as arterial sclerosis and aortic aneurysm have especially been increasing. In order to treat aortic aneurysm surgical thoracolaparotomy has been applied. Recently, however, as a low-invasive treatment adopted is transcutaneous treatment in which various types of devices such that an artificial blood vessel, a stent, a stent graft or a balloon are inserted into and detained in an affected area through a catheter introduced into a body from a dissected arterial blood vessel.

[0003] On an occasion when transcutaneous treatment is provided to aortic aneurysm with the above-mentioned technique, there might be a case thrombus that has pooled in an affected area alienates and flows into a blood vessel through an inner wall of a blood vessel that has become fragile. In this case when the alienated thrombus is flown into a narrow peripheral blood vessel with the blood flow, there is a risk that a tissue ahead of the thrombus is necrotized. Especially, a thrombus blocks up an arteria carotis communis in a head is immediately life-threatening.

[0004] Then in order to avoid the above-mentioned risk, an alienated thrombus capture device referred to as a filter device has been developed that is to be arranged at a peripheral side to an affected area where a device such as an artificial blood vessel is to be detained and to capture and receive the thrombus that alienates from the blood vessel. This kind of device has an arrangement; either an opening edge portion or a closed distal end portion of a bursiform portion made of a mesh material is fixed to near a distal end portion of a flexible transport wire that is inserted into a catheter, the bursiform portion is enclosed in the catheter in a shape along the transport wire in a narrowed state and when the bursiform portion is released from a distal end of the catheter together with a distal end portion of the transport wire at an appropriate position locating at a peripheral side to the affected area, an opening edge portion of the bursiform portion is spread to open. In addition, the transport wire is arranged to pass through a lumen of an artificial blood vessel and to release the artificial blood vessel from a sheath into which the catheter is inserted to the affected area after or at the same time the bursiform portion is released. Further, after the artificial blood vessel is detained at the affected area, the opening edge portion of the bursiform portion is narrowed by pulling the transport wire into the catheter and with this condition kept the alienated thrombus capture device wherein the thrombus is enclosed in the bursiform portion is pulled out of the body so as to be retrieved by pulling it into the sheath.

[0005] As an arrangement of the above-mentioned conventional alienated thrombus capture device represented is that a flexible wire is bent into a loop, its both ends are bound and fixed to the transport wire and an opening edge portion of a bursiform portion is mounted on the loop of the wire. Another arrangement of the conventional alienated thrombus capture device represented is that multiple flexible wires are shaped to be a spindle, its both ends are fixed to two points separated in a longitudinal direction on the transport wire, an opening edge portion of a bursiform portion is mounted on an intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction of each wire and a closed distal end portion of the bursiform portion is mounted on a distal end portion of the wire.

[0006] However, for the former one, namely the arrangement wherein the looped wire is used, since the looped wire is supported at a single point by the transport wire, it is difficult to coincide a direction of a center axis of the bursiform portion with a direction of blood flow and the alienated thrombus capture device might incline and fail to capture a thrombus. In addition, after an artificial blood vessel is detained at an affected area, an opening width of the loop is narrowed when the wire is pulled into the catheter, however, a width of an opening edge portion of the bursiform portion that is still open tends to be wide and a thrombus that has been enclosed inside the bursiform portion might get out from the opening edge. As this kind of the alienated thrombus capture device conceived is that a part of the looped wire is made thin or cut so that the looped wire can be folded into smaller when retrieved, however, this makes no difference in a problem that the device itself inclines. For the later one, namely the arrangement wherein the multiple wires in a shape of a spindle are used, since the arrangement is complicated and the wires are bulky, it becomes hard to enclose multiple wires in the catheter. In addition, it is difficult for the opening edge portion of the bursiform portion to take its form along the inner wall of the blood vessel due to existence of wires and a thrombus might pass through a gap between the opening edge portion and the inner wall of the blood vessel. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the shape of the opening edge portion should be close to a perfect circle, which requires more wires, thereby to make the arrangement more complicated and to be further bulky.

[0007] Further, as a problem common to the conventional alienated thrombus capture devices, since the transport wire is in a state of passing inside the artificial blood vessel, the arrangement as a whole becomes complicated and the transport wire might be a hindrance by entwining with other wires to transport or to detain the artificial blood vessel.

DISCLOURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present claimed invention intends to provide an alienated thrombus capture device with a simple arrangement that can capture an alienated thrombus during transcutaneous treatment without fail so that there would be no fear of spilling the thrombus out of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0009] The alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the present claimed invention comprises a ring portion made of a wire member having foldable elasticity, an flexibly transformable linear stiffener portion that penetrates the ring portion, a porous bursiform portion whose opening edge portion is mounted on the ring portion and whose closed edge portion is mounted on a part of a distal end side of the stiffener portion and an flexibly transformable support linear member portion that is supported between a part of the stiffener portion locating at a proximal end side to the closed edge portion and the ring portion in a strained state, and is characterized by that the support linear member portion supports the ring portion in a spread state with a distance between a support portion for supporting the support linear member portion on the stiffener portion and an arbitrary portion on a circumference of the ring portion kept generally constant.

[0010] In accordance with the arrangement, since it is easy to generally coincide a direction of a center axis with a direction of blood flow because the spread ring portion is supported by the support linear member portion, an alienated thrombus can be captured and enclosed in the bursiform portion stably and surely without fail. Further, the alienated thrombus can be captured without fail when the ring portion makes an abutting contact with inner wall of the blood vessel because the ring portion follows contraction of a blood vessel and transforms moderately due to elasticity of the ring portion. Especially, since the bursiform portion is porous, the alienated thrombus capture device does not interfere blood flow. In addition, when external force is applied directly to the ring portion or the support linear member portions are made to close to the stiffener portion by external force with a strained state kept, the ring portion is folded into small with its opening portion narrowed. As a result, it is possible to send the alienated thrombus capture device that is inserted into a catheter with the ring portion folded to a predetermined portion in a blood vessel preferably and it is also possible to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device without spilling out the captured thrombus in a state the thrombus is captured in the bursiform portion and the opening edge portion is narrowed with the ring portion folded. The support portion for supporting the support linear member portion on the stiffener portion is preferably arranged at a proximal end portion side to the closed edge portion of the bursiform portion, more preferably at a position where the ring portion is arranged or a proximal end portion side to the position. Further, the stiffener portion may be separated from the transport device to transport the alienated thrombus capture device or may be integrated into the transport device. In either case that the stiffener portion is separated from or integrated into the transport device, it is preferable that at least more than one support linear member portion is provided.

[0011] In case that the ring portion is spread in a blood vessel, in order to coincide a direction of its center axis with a direction of blood flow more stably and to stabilize the alienated thrombus capture device it is effective that multiple of support linear member portions are arranged and support portions for supporting one end of each support linear member portion are set at equally dividing points each of which generally equally divides the circumference of the ring portion. In this case, in order to downsize the ring portion when the ring portion is folded with a more simple arrangement it is preferable that the equally dividing points are set to be points that generally bisect, trisect or quadrisect the circumference of the ring portion.

[0012] As a concrete example of especially preferable support linear member portion represented is a thread made of a fiber material or a wire made of resin or metal that supports a posture of the ring portion by tensile force acting between the stiffener portion and the ring portion.

[0013] In order to fold the ring portion in a compact side with ease, it is preferable that dividing points that generally equally divide the circumference of the ring portion into an even number of four and over are set and the support portions for supporting the support linear member portions are formed at either each of middle points between adjacent dividing points, each of the dividing points or every other dividing points and the ring portion can be folded so that the every other dividing points form peaks of chevrons facing a distal end side of the stiffener portion and every other dividing points adjacent to the dividing points as the peaks of the chevrons form bottoms of valleys facing a proximal end side of the stiffener portion.

[0014] As a concrete arrangement that can both stabilize the posture of the ring portion and downsize the folded ring portion represented is that four dividing points are set on the ring portion and the support portions for supporting the support linear member portions are formed at middle points between adjacent dividing points. The middle point is not necessarily just a center between adjacent dividing points but may deviate little to either one of the dividing points.

[0015] In order to stabilize the posture of the ring portion and to fold the ring portion into a compact size with a simple arrangement one end portion of the support linear member portion may be fixed to the support portion on the stiffener portion and the other end portion of the support linear member portion may be fixed to the support portion on the ring portion. As a simple arrangement to attain the above-mentioned object represented is, for example, each support linear member portion may be of a single linear member and both ends of the linear member are mounted on the support linear member portion and the ring portion.

[0016] In addition, as a simple arrangement to stabilize the posture of the ring portion and to fold the ring portion into a compact size represented is that a pair of adjacent support linear member portions comprise a single flexibly transformable support linear member and both ends of the support linear member are fixed to the support portion on the stiffener portion and an intermediate portion is supported in a slidably movable manner by a pair of adjacent support portions on the ring portion. Further, one end portion of the support linear member portion may be fixed to the support portion on the stiffener portion and the other end portion may be fixed to one of the support portions on the ring portion and an intermediate portion may be supported in a slidably movable manner by the support portion at the adjacent portion of the support portion that fixes the other end portion.

[0017] Especially, when the alienated thrombus capture device is retrieved, in order to fold the ring portion into a small size with ease by effectively binding multiple of support linear member portions it is preferable that a tubular slider portion into which the stiffener portion is inserted and that is slidably movable along the stiffener portion is arranged on the stiffener portion. With this arrangement, the support linear member portions to be enclosed inside the slider portion can be gathered along the stiffener portion by moving the slider portion toward a distal end direction of the stiffener portion. In this case, for example, when the slider portion is pushed by the distal end of the catheter so as to make a sliding movement, in order not to emerge into the catheter it is preferable that a big diameter portion whose diameter is bigger than that of a distal end portion of the slider portion is formed at a proximal end portion of an outer circumferential wall of the slider portion. Further, in order to restrain an unnecessary movement of the slider portion so that the slider portion makes a sliding movement within the minimum range it is preferable that a stopper portion that restrains the slider portion from moving to the proximal end side is formed at a position locating at a proximal end side to the support portion for supporting the support linear member portion on the stiffener portion and also locating at a proximal end side to the proximal end portion of the slider portion.

[0018] Especially, as a preferable arrangement of the alienated thrombus capture device that is separated from a transport device to transport the alienated thrombus capture device represented is that the alienated thrombus capture device is so arranged to be detachably mounted on a transport device to transport the alienated thrombus capture device, and characterized by that the proximal end side of the stiffener portion is directly or indirectly pushed or pulled by the transport device so as to be transported. With this arrangement, prior to transporting a device such as an artificial blood vessel to an affected area, the alienated thrombus capture device can be arranged at a predetermined portion in a blood vessel at a peripheral side to the affected area and retrieved after the device is detained, then the alienated thrombus capture device does not disturb a transporting/detaining process of the device. In addition, the alienated thrombus capture device can be retrieved with ease during a process of detaining the device.

[0019] In order to make it easy to transport the alienated thrombus capture device separated from the transport device in using/retrieving the alienated thrombus capture device, it is preferable that a held portion to be held by the transport device is formed at the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion. More concretely, in case the transport device comprises a hold member having an engage portion of a loop shape that is selectively expandable and shrinkable at its distal end portion, it is preferable that the held portion is formed by partially curving or bending the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion and the held portion is held by the shrunken engage portion after the held portion is hooked with the engage portion with passing the expanded engage portion of the hold member. Especially, in order to make an engaged state of the transport device with the held portion in a good state so as to hold the stiffener portion by the transport device securely it is preferable that a slip stopper portion that prevents separation from the engage portion by making an engagement with a part of the shrunken engage portion of the hold member is formed on the held portion.

[0020] In addition, when the alienated thrombus capture device is retrieved, in order to make it easy to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device by pulling the engage portion with the held portion is hooked with the hold member in a state that the held portion does not contact an inner wall of a blood vessel it is preferable that a maximum distance between a center axis of the ring portion and the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion is set within a radius size of the ring portion. In order to embody this arrangement easily and concretely it is preferable that a spiral portion whose axial center generally coincides with a center axis of the ring portion by transforming the stiffener portion partially is formed at a distal end side to the held portion on the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion.

[0021] In case that the stiffener portion is integrally formed with or mounted on a part of a transport device for transporting the alienated thrombus capture device, the alienated thrombus capture device can be easily retrieved without using a transport device separated from the alienated thrombus capture device if necessary during detaining the device such as an artificial blood vessel and the alienated thrombus capture device can be transported together with the device easily. Especially in this case, a posture of the ring portion may be maintained in a good state by the use of multiple support linear member portions. Since the stiffener portion is integrally formed with the transport device, a posture of the ring portion may also be maintained with its center axis coincided with a direction of blood flow by the use of a single support linear member portion. In addition, as another embodiment of the alienated thrombus capture device integrally formed with the transport device represented is that the alienated thrombus capture device can be moved by directly operating the proximal end side of the stiffener portion by a user.

[0022] Irrespective of the alienated thrombus capture device integrally formed with the transport device or separated from the transport device, in order to guide the alienated thrombus capture device by the alienated thrombus capture device itself and to stabilize a posture of the ring portion in a blood vessel in transporting the alienated thrombus capture device to an appropriate position in a peripheral narrow blood vessel it is preferable that a guide portion is formed by elongating the distal end portion of the stiffener portion toward a distal end side from the closed edge portion of the bursiform portion and partially curving or bending the elongated distal end portion.

[0023] In order to fold the ring portion into a preferable shape easily it is preferable that support portions are formed on either one of middle positions between the adjacent dividing points, dividing points and every other dividing points out of the dividing points set on the ring portion and a folded habit to fold the ring portion in a wavy shape by approaching the ring portion to the stiffener portion so that every other dividing points form peaks of chevrons facing the distal end side of the stiffener portion and the dividing points adjacent to the dividing points that form the peaks of the chevrons form bottoms of valleys facing the proximal end side of the stiffener portion is given to the ring portion beforehand. Further it is also preferable that the ring portion is in a wavy shape corresponding to the folded habit also in a spread state. In addition, in order to make a shape of the folded ring portion more compact it is preferable that a project portion further projecting to the proximal end side of the stiffener portion is formed at a position to be a bottom of a valley when the ring portion is folded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a spread state of an alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with one embodiment of the present claimed invention.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a partial magnified longitudinal cross-sectional view cut at a proximal end portion side of a stiffener portion of the alienated thrombus capture device of the embodiment.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a partial magnified transversal cross-sectional view showing a state of a bursiform portion mounted on a ring portion of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a process of folding the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a perspective showing a folded state of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0029]FIG. 6 is a magnified perspective view showing a state of the alienated thrombus capture device held by a part of a transport device used in this embodiment.

[0030]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the transport device used in this embodiment.

[0031]FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state inside the transport device of this embodiment.

[0032]FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a transport process to arrange the alienated thrombus capture device at a predetermined portion in a blood vessel.

[0033]FIG. 10 is a partial magnified longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 9.

[0034]FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a transport process to arrange the alienated thrombus capture device at the predetermined portion in a blood vessel.

[0035]FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a transport process to arrange the alienated thrombus capture device at the predetermined portion in a blood vessel.

[0036]FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state that the alienated thrombus capture device is arranged at the predetermined portion in a blood vessel.

[0037]FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a transport process to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device from the blood vessel.

[0038]FIG. 15 is a magnified explanatory view of a principal portion in FIG. 14.

[0039]FIG. 16 is a magnified explanatory view showing a transport process to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device from the blood vessel.

[0040]FIG. 17 is a magnified explanatory view showing a transport process to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device from the blood vessel.

[0041]FIG. 18 is a magnified longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a modified form of a transport process to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device from the blood vessel.

[0042]FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing the alienated thrombus capture device arranged at a bent portion in the blood vessel.

[0043]FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing a transport process to arrange the alienated thrombus capture device at a predetermined portion in a blood vessel by a modified form of the transport device.

[0044]FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing the alienated thrombus capture device arranged in the blood vessel by the transport device of the modified form.

[0045]FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing a transport process to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device by the user of the transport device in accordance with the modified form.

[0046]FIG. 23 is a magnified explanatory view of a principal portion in FIG. 22 showing the retrieve process.

[0047]FIG. 24 is a magnified explanatory view showing the retrieve process.

[0048]FIG. 25 is an explanatory view showing a transport process to arrange the alienated thrombus capture device at a predetermined portion in a blood vessel by the use of a transport device in accordance with a modified form of the embodiment.

[0049]FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the alienated thrombus capture device on which a guide tube is mounted.

[0050]FIG. 27 is an explanatory view showing a process to transport the alienated thrombus capture device by the use of the guide tube and a guide wire.

[0051]FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0052]FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a process to fold the alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the modified form of the embodiment.

[0053]FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0054]FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a process to fold the alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the modified form.

[0055]FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0056]FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0057]FIG. 34 is an explanatory view showing a process to retrieve the modified form in FIG. 32.

[0058]FIG. 35 is an explanatory view showing the retrieve process.

[0059]FIG. 36 is an explanatory view showing a process to retrieve the modified form in FIG. 33.

[0060]FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the alienated thrombus capture device to which a slider portion is applied.

[0061]FIG. 38 is a perspective view showing a process of the alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the modified form.

[0062]FIG. 39 is a perspective view showing a process of the alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the modified form.

[0063]FIG. 40 is a magnified perspective view showing a modified form of the slider portion.

[0064]FIG. 41 is a magnified perspective view showing another method to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device to which the slider portion is applied.

[0065]FIG. 42 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0066]FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing a process to fold the alienated thrombus capture device in retrieving the alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the modified form.

[0067]FIG. 44 is a perspective view showing an example of the alienated thrombus capture device wherein a ring portion is transformed in a wavy shape beforehand.

[0068]FIG. 45 is a perspective view showing a process to fold the alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the modified form.

[0069]FIG. 46 is a perspective view showing a mode in which each part is reinforced in the embodiment.

[0070]FIG. 47 is a magnified cross-sectional view showing a modified form of a project portion of the stiffener portion of the embodiment.

[0071]FIG. 48 is a view showing an example wherein a helical posture stabilizer is formed at a proximal end portion of the stiffener portion of the embodiment.

[0072]FIG. 49 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0073]FIG. 50 is a perspective view showing a process to fold the alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the modified form.

[0074]FIG. 51 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the alienated thrombus capture device.

[0075]FIG. 52 is a perspective view showing a process to fold the alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the modified form.

[0076]FIG. 53 is a perspective view showing an alienated thrombus capture device integrated into a transport device.

[0077]FIG. 54 is en explanatory view showing a process to transport the alienated thrombus capture device integrated into the transport device.

BEST MODES OF EMBODYING THE INVENTION

[0078] The invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0079] An alienated thrombus capture device 1 in this embodiment is called by the name of a filter device that is used, for example, in order to catch thrombus alienated from an affected area in conducting a transcutaneous treatment such as to insert a sheath or a catheter into a blood vessel so as to detain various types of devices such as an artificial blood vessel at an affected area such as arterial sclerosis or aortic aneurysm and mainly comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, a stiffener portion 11, a ring portion 12, a bursiform portion 13 and a support linear member portion 14.

[0080] The stiffener portion 11 comprises a thin ductile wire made of nickel titanium alloy that is superior in resilient restoration. In this embodiment, a wire whose length is, for example, about 10 centimeters is used wherein one end as a proximal end side thereof is folded into a shape of a J character so as to form a hook portion 11 a as a portion to be held and the other end as a distal end side thereof is curved in a shape of a moderate partial arc so as to form a guide portion 11 b. The stiffener portion 11 is preferably made of a single wire, however, it may be made of multiple wires integrated into a single entity.

[0081] The ring portion 12 is made of a wire having a similar material to that of the stiffener portion 11 formed into a circular form with a diameter of, for example, about 8 through 10 mm and arranged in a posture that a center axis 12 n (refer to FIG. 2) is generally aligned with the stiffener portion 11 at a position separated from the proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 by about one third of the longitudinal length of the stiffener portion 11. In this embodiment the ring portion 12 is made of a wire bent into a circle with its both ends connected, however, the ring portion 12 may be strengthened with a wire or wires wound in a circle in multiple times. The ring portion 12 has, as shown in FIG. 2, dividing points 121, 122, 123, 124 each of which generally quadrisects a circumference of the circle. The ring portion 12 is given a folded habit beforehand so that a pair of facing dividing points 121, 123 form bottoms of valleys when folded to face the proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 by external force and the pair of dividing points 122, 124 form peaks of chevrons when folded to face the distal end side of the stiffener portion 11 by external force, namely the ring portion 12 forms a wavy shape as a whole after folded.

[0082] The bursiform portion 13 is made from a flexible tensile porous triangle sheet formed into a circular conic bursiform shape with its opening edge portion 13 a mounted on the ring portion 12 and with its closed edge portion 13 b mounted on the stiffener portion 11 at a position separated from the distal end side of the stiffener portion 11 by about one-third or one-half of the longitudinal length of the stiffener portion 11. The sheet is made of a biomaterial, for example, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, nylon or the like with a plurality of porosities or in a porous shape woven into meshes or a net so as to have a blood permeable characteristics and to be able to catch alienated thrombus. In this embodiment, the bursiform portion 13 is made of polyester in a sheet having 80 through 200 μm in texture. In mounting the bursiform portion 13 on the ring portion 12, as shown in FIG. 3, the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 is wound around the ring portion 12 into a cylinder from an inner periphery to an outer periphery thereof and then sutured with a thread or bonded. The closed edge portion 13 b of the bursiform portion 13 is fixedly mounted on the stiffener portion 11 by means of suture or adhesive to prevent it from opening.

[0083] The support linear member portion 14 is made of, as shown in FIG. 1, flexible and transformable four linear members each of whose one end fixed to a portion locating at the proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 and each of other ends fixed to a support portion 14 a or 14 b set on the circumference of the ring portion 12 in a tie-on manner and arranged in a state to have a tension when the ring portion 12 is spread. The support portion 14 a is set at a position separated from the proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11, for example, by one-fifth of the longitudinal length of the stiffener portion 11 and the proximal end portion of the support linear member portion 14 is tied with the support portion 14 a and then fixed to the stiffener portion 11 by means of adhesive or the like. The support portion 14 b is, as shown in FIG. 2, set at each general midpoint between adjacent dividing points 121 and 122, 122 and 123, 123 and 124, 124 and 121, on the circumference of the ring portion 12, in other words, at four points each generally quadrisecting the circumference of the ring portion 12. As a wire member functioning as the above support linear member portion 14, a thread made of a high-strength polyarylate fiber is used in this embodiment, however, a wire member made of an appropriate material that has enough strength and elasticity and to which tension can be applied by the action of external force such as a thread made of other fiber material, a metal wire made of the same material as that of the stiffener portion 11 or other material, a resin thread or a resin wire or the like may be used.

[0084] The alienated thrombus capture device 1 having the above arrangement changes its state from a spread state 1 a shown in FIG. 1 to a folded state 1 b wherein the ring portion 12 is gradually folded by external force so as to approach each two pairs of dividing points 121 and 123, and 122 and 124 arranged to face each other and the bursiform portion 13 is folded as shown in FIG. 4 and further the ring portion 12 is folded until each pairs of dividing points 121 and 123, and 122 and 124 make an abutting contact each other as shown in FIG. 5. In this folded state 1 b, the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 is almost completely closed.

[0085] The alienated thrombus capture device 1 that can be folded with the above process is transported by a transport device A to be explained next. The transport device A comprises, as shown in FIG. 7, a sheath 2, a first catheter 3 that is to be inserted into the sheath 2 through an adaptor, not shown in drawings, a second catheter 4 that is to be inserted into the first catheter 3 through a connector 31 to be mounted on a proximal end portion 3 b of the first catheter 3 and a wire 5 as a holding member that is inserted into the second catheter 4 through a connector 41 mounted on a proximal end portion 4 b of the second catheter 4 and that also serves as a tow member. In case of inserting the alienated thrombus capture device 1 into a blood vessel as a practical matter, a cartridge with a check valve or other auxiliary device is mounted on an appropriate portion in order to prevent bleeding. Since each device constituting the transport device A is commonly used, a brief explanation will be given next.

[0086] The sheath 2 is so arranged that its distal end portion 2 a is directly inserted into an artery of a human body and has an enough girth and flexibility. The first catheter 3 is a long catheter whose outer diameter is about 7 fr. (2.1 mm) and its distal end portion 3 a side is inserted into the sheath 2 and projected from the distal end portion 2 a of the sheath 2 so as to reach near an affected area in a blood vessel. The connector 31 mounted on the proximal end portion 3 b of the first catheter 3 has a through hole 31 a in a shape of a funnel gradually narrowed from a proximal end portion side to a distal end portion side. The second catheter 4 has an outer diameter of about 5 fr. (1.5 mm) so as to be inserted into a lumen of the first catheter 3 and is a longer catheter than the first catheter 3. The connector 41 mounted on the proximal end portion 4 b of the second catheter 4 is similar to the connector 31 and has a through hole 41 a whose diameter is a little smaller than that of the connector 31. The wire 5 is made of a flexible metal having a diameter to be inserted into a lumen of the second catheter 4 and having such an enough length that a proximal end portion 5 b that is inserted into the second catheter 4 and that projects from a proximal end of the connector 41 can be operated by hand and a distal end portion 5 a can project over the distal end portion 3 a of the first catheter 3. A loop shaped engage portion 5 c is formed at the distal end portion 5 a and a distal end portion of the engage portion 5 c is partially bent to form a projecting portion 5 c 1 projecting in a shape of a mountain.

[0087] Next, a method to transport the alienated thrombus capture device 1 by using the above transport device A will be described.

[0088] First, prior to a transcutaneous treatment, as shown in FIG. 6, outside a body, mount the connector 41 on the second catheter 4 and insert the wire 5 into the connector 41 and the second catheter 4 until the engage portion 5 c of the wire 5 projects out of the distal end of the second catheter 4. Pull the alienated thrombus capture device 1 wherein the hook portion 11 a is engaged with the engage portion 5 c by operating to pull the proximal end portion 5 b of the wire 5 projecting from the proximal end side of the connector 41. At this time, if the hook portion 11 a is fittingly inserted into inside the projecting portion 5 c 1, an engaging state of the engage portion 5 c and the hook portion 11 a can be made stable. From this state, pull the proximal end portion 5 b of the wire 5 toward a proximal end side of an extending direction (a direction of an arrow in FIG. 6), then the proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 is pulled into the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 with keeping the engaging state of the engage portion 5 c and the hook portion 11 a as shown in FIG. 7. Further pull the wire 5 to a position where the support portion 14 a on the stiffener portion 11 is pulled into the second catheter 4, then the support linear member portion 14 is pulled into the second catheter 4 with keeping a tensed state between an opening edge of a lumen at the distal end of the second catheter 4 and the ring portion 12. Due to force by which the support linear member portion 14 is constricted between the second catheter 4 and the ring portion 12, the ring portion 12 is folded into a wavy shape with the dividing points 121 and 123 forming bottoms of valleys and the dividing points 122 and 124 forming peaks of chevrons in accordance with a folded habit that has been given beforehand. Then fix the wire 5 to the second catheter 4 by the use of an appropriate device.

[0089] Next, as shown in FIG. 7, fold the ring portion 12 so as to make it compact by pinching it with fingers to a direction shown by an arrow in FIG. 7 and then insert the alienated thrombus capture device 1 that is held by the second catheter 4 and the wire 5 and a relative positional relationship between the second catheter 4, the wire 5 and the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is kept generally constant into the first catheter 3 through the connector 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, transport the alienated thrombus capture device 1 that is held by the second catheter 4 and the wire 5 toward a direction of the distal end portion 3 a of the first catheter 3 with the distal end of the second catheter 4 pushing against the dividing points 121, 123 as the bottoms of the valleys of the ring portion 12 by an operation of paying out the second catheter 4 into the first catheter 3. In this state, the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is in a completely folded state. The distal end portion 2 a of the sheath 2 and the distal end portion 3 a of the first catheter 3 are preferably inserted into a blood vessel in a body, for example, an aorta in a crural area. Especially, it is preferable that the distal end portion 3 a of the first catheter 3 reaches a position where the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is arranged near a diseased portion.

[0090] Next, a method to transport the alienated thrombus capture device 1 to a predetermined portion in a blood vessel and to release it will be explained with reference to FIG. 9 through FIG. 13. Here will be explained is a case that the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is transitionally detained in a left arteria carotis communis 71 locating downstream of a blood flow B.F when conducting a transcutaneous practice such as an artificial blood vessel 8 (refer to FIG. 14) is detained in an aortic aneurysm (hereinafter referred to as a diseased portion 7×) generated between the left arteria carotis communis 71 and a brachiocephalic trunk 72 in an aortic arch 7 of a chest. A similar method can be applied to other blood vessel (for example, the brachiocephalic trunk 72, a right arteria carotis communis, now shown in drawings, that bifurcates downstream, a thyrocervical trunk 73 or an abdominal artery) depending on a position of the diseased portion 7×.

[0091] The following operation is conducted with taking an X-ray. First, as shown in FIG. 9, send the first catheter 3 to the left arteria carotis communis 71 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “blood vessel” for short) through the aortic arch 7 from the distal end portion 2 a of the sheath 2 inserted into the aorta through a femoral region, then pay out the first catheter 3 together with the wire 5 relatively fixed to the second catheter 4 as shown in FIG. 8 so as to expose the distal end side of the alienated thrombus capture device 1 at a predetermined position in the blood vessel 71 through the distal end portion 3 a of the first catheter 3. At this position the guide portion 11 b formed on the stiffener portion 11 makes an abutting contact with an inner wall 71 b of the blood vessel 71 slightly. This state around the distal end portion 3 a of the first catheter 3 is shown in FIG. 10 in a magnified general cross-sectional view. More specifically explaining based on FIG. 10, the second catheter 4 reaches near the distal end of the first catheter 3 inside the first catheter 3 and the engage portion 5 c of the wire 5, the proximal end portion side of the stiffener portion 11 and the proximal end side of the support linear member portion 14 are enclosed in the second catheter 4. The ring portion 12 is kept in a wavy folded state by being pressed by the inner wall of the first catheter 3 from both sides and with this state the distal end of the second catheter 4 makes an abutting contact with the dividing points 121, 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys. In other words, in this state the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is in a generally completely folded state 1 b.

[0092] From the above-mentioned state shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, pull the first catheter 3 alone back into the sheath 2 as shown in FIG. 11 until the distal end portion 3 a reaches the distal end of the second catheter 4 or the distal end portion 3 a passes a little over the distal end of the second catheter 4, and then the whole of the ring portion 12 is exposed in the blood vessel 71 and the ring portion 12 starts to spread due to resilient restoration force from the folded state 1 b. In this state, since the proximal end portion side of the support linear member portion 14 is still in the second catheter 4, the ring portion 12 is not spread completely. Then loosen the wire 5 and further pull the first catheter 3 into the sheath 2 and expose the engage portion 5 c of the wire 5 and whole of the alienated thrombus capture device 1 into the blood vessel 71 from the second catheter 4 as shown in FIG. 12, then the ring portion 12 is in a completely spread state 1 a and supported by the support linear member portion 14 having tensile force between the ring portion 12 and the stiffener portion 11. In case that a subtle adjustment of positioning is necessary for the alienated thrombus capture device 1, the wire 5 may be operated. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, operate the proximal end portion 5 b of the wire 5 so as to release engagement of the engage portion 5 c and the hook portion 11 a and leave the alienated thrombus capture device 1 at a position where the ring portion 12 spreads. Enclose the first catheter 3, the second catheter 4 and the wire 5 into the sheath 2 and further withdraw them out of the body in order not to disturb an operation of detaining the artificial blood vessel 8. The first catheter 3, the second catheter 4 and the wire 5 may be left in an appropriate blood vessel or the sheath 2 if they do not disturb the operation of detaining the artificial blood vessel 8.

[0093] Since the alienated thrombus capture device 1 left in the blood vessel 71 with the above procedure is so arranged that a diameter of the ring portion 12 is a little bigger than a bore diameter (in this case, about 8 mm) of the blood vessel 71, the ring portion 12 and the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 tightly attach to the inner wall 71 a of the blood vessel 71 and supported by the support linear member portion 14 stably with taking a posture in which a direction of the center axis 12 n generally coincided with the direction of blood flow B.F. In addition, since the distal end of the guide portion 13 formed at the distal end portion of the stiffener portion 11 makes an abutting contact with the inner wall 71 a of the blood vessel 71, the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is difficult to incline. Further, since the ring portion 12 spreads in the blood vessel 71 in a slight wavy shape corresponding to the folded habit created beforehand and tightly attaches to the inner wall 71 a of the blood vessel 71, the ring portion 12 shrinks/spreads by following a pulse of the blood vessel 71 with keeping the tightly attached state. In other words, the ring portion 12 can be kept in the tightly attached state with the inner wall 71 a of the blood vessel 71 and excessive load applied to the blood vessel 71 can be prevented.

[0094] As mentioned above, when the diseased portion 7×is treated with the artificial blood vessel 8 detained as shown in FIG. 14, a thrombus 9 alienated from the diseased portion 7× and flown to the left arteria carotis communis 71 locating in a peripheral side is enclosed in the bursiform portion 13 of the alienated thrombus capture device 1. In this case, since the bursiform portion 13 is made of a meshed material, blood passes the bursiform portion 13 easily and the thrombus 9 alone is filtered and captured. In order to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device 1 that has caught the thrombus 9 with the above process from the blood vessel 71, send the first catheter 3 again to the blood vessel 71 through the sheath 2 until the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 protrudes from the distal end portion 3 a of the first catheter 3 and the distal end portion of the wire 5 protrudes from the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 as shown in FIG. 14.

[0095] Following is a concrete explanation. First, make the wire 5 in a movable state relative to the second catheter 4 and engage the engage portion Sc of the wire 5 projected from the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 with the hook portion 11 a of the stiffener portion 11 as shown in FIG. 15. Next, further pay out the second catheter 4 toward a distal end direction so as to increase a projecting amount of the distal end portion 4 a side of the second catheter 4 from the distal end portion 3 a of the first catheter 3, as shown in FIG. 16, and then enclose the wire 5, the proximal end portion side of the stiffener portion 11 and the proximal end portion side of the support linear member portion 14 inside the second catheter 4. When the support portion 14 a of the support linear member portion 14 is enclosed inside the second catheter 4, each support linear member portion 14 is gradually bundled in a state having tensile force between the support portion 14 b of the ring portion 12 and the distal end of the second catheter 4. As a result, the ring portion 12 is pulled toward the stiffener portion 11 side in a wavy shape with the dividing points 121 and 123 forming the bottoms of the valleys and the dividing points 122 and 124 forming the peaks of the chevrons due to tensile force of the support linear member portion 14 and accordingly the opening edge portion 13 a of the stiffener portion 13 is gradually closed. Next, further pay out the second catheter 4 toward a direction of the distal end, then a pair of the dividing points 121 and 123 that form the bottoms of valleys of the ring portion 12 folded into the wavy form hold the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 tightly as shown in FIG. 17 and the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is in the generally completely folded state 1 b. In other words, in this state the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 is closed. Then fix the wire 5 to the second catheter 4 and keep a relative positional relation between the second catheter 4, the wire 5 and the alienated thrombus capture device 1 generally constant.

[0096] Further, as shown in FIG. 18, pay out the first catheter 3 toward a distal end side, or adversely pull the alienated thrombus capture device 1 toward the first catheter 3 side together with the wire 5 so as to make a pair of the dividing points 121 and 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys of the ring portion 12 an abutting contact with the distal end of the first catheter 3, then a closed state of the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 can be made more stable. In this case, in order to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device 1 smoothly, it is preferable not to form a step between the ring portion 12 that tightly holds the second catheter 4 and the first catheter 3 along a direction to a radial of the first catheter 3. Then pull the first catheter 3, the second catheter 4, the wire 5 and the alienated thrombus capture device 1 out of the body through the sheath 2 after the captured thrombus 9 is made not to get out of the bursiform portion 13, then the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is retrieved together with the captured thrombus 9.

[0097] In order to ensure the closed state of the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 of the alienated thrombus capture device 1 that has caught the alienated thrombus 9, it is preferable that, for example as shown in FIG. 19, an outer diameter of the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 is made a little thinner than that of the proximal end portion of the second catheter 4 to form a small gap 3 s between the outer diameter of the second catheter 4 and a bore diameter of the first catheter 3 so that a portion including a pair of the dividing points 121 and 123 that form the bottoms of valleys of the folded ring portion 12 can be enclosed in the gap 3 s. In addition, adversely, although not shown in drawings, a diameter of the distal end portion 3 a of the first catheter 3 may be made thicker than that of the proximal end portion of the first catheter 3 to form a gap like the above between the first catheter 3 and the outer diameter of the second catheter 4 so that the dividing points 121 and 123 of the ring portion 12 and a portion around the dividing points 121 and 123 can be enclosed in the gap. With this arrangement, since the ring portion 12 is pushed against the bore diameter of the first catheter 3 in a folded state, it is possible to effectively prevent the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 from opening.

[0098] In the above explained is a case that the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is arranged in a relatively straight portion in the blood vessel 71, however, the alienated thrombus capture device 1 can be preferably arranged in, for example, a curved portion in the blood vessel 71. In this case, the guide portion 11 b locating at the distal end portion side of the stiffener portion 11 makes an abutting contact with the inner wall 71 a of the blood vessel 71 in a bowed state along a curved blood vessel 71 and supports other portions. In other words, the support linear member portion 14 mounted on the bowed stiffener portion 11 supports the ring portions 12 in a posture wherein a direction of an axial center of the ring portion 12 generally coincides with a direction of a blood flow with the support linear member portion 14 locating outer side of the curved portion in the blood vessel 71 in a tensed state and with the support linear member portion 14 locating inner side of the curved portion in an appropriately bowed state. As a result, it is possible to capture the thrombus surely in a curved blood vessel 71 by the use of the alienated thrombus capture device 1.

[0099] The alienated thrombus capture device 1 of this embodiment can be transported by the used of a transport device having an arrangement different from the above-mentioned transport device A.

[0100] For example, the transport device shown in FIG. 21 has the same arrangement as that of the transport device A except that the first catheter 3 is not used. More concretely, fold the alienated thrombus capture device 1 at the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 as shown in FIG. 6 by pulling the wire 5 in the second catheter 4 and with this state kept fix the wire 5 to the second catheter 4 and then insert the alienated thrombus capture device 1 into the sheath 2 with a relative portioning relationship between the second catheter 4 and the wire 5 kept generally constant. In this case, if the distal end of the second catheter 4 is arranged to make an abutting contact with a portion where four support linear member portions 14 pulled into the second catheter 4 are gathered and bundled, it is possible to transport the alienated thrombus capture device 1 with ease. Next, as shown in FIG. 21, pay out the second catheter 4 to directly expose the distal end portion 4 a to inside the blood vessel 71 through the distal end portion 2 a of the sheath 2 so that the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is transported to a predetermined position. At this position, release a fixed state of the wire 5 to the second catheter 4 and pull the second catheter 4 alone back as shown by an arrow in FIG. 21 so as to expose the engage portion 5 c of the wire 5 to inside the blood vessel 71 as shown in FIG. 22 and then release the engage state of the engage portion 5 c and the hook portion 11 a by operating the proximal end portion 5 b of the wire 5.

[0101] In addition, like the above, the alienated thrombus capture device 1 arranged in the blood vessel 71 can be retrieved without using the first catheter 3. In other words, like a case shown in FIG. 15, hook the engage portion 5 c of the wire 5 extending from the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 with the hook portion 11 a of the alienated thrombus capture device 1 and pull the proximal end portion 5 b of the wire 5 so as to draw the engage portion 5 c, the proximal end portion side of the stiffener portion 11 and the proximal end portion side of the support linear member portion 14 into the second catheter 4 as shown in FIG. 23. As a result, the ring portion 12 is folded into a wavy shape by tensile force of the support linear member portion 14. Further pull the wire 5, then the dividing points 121 and 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys of the ring portion 12 tightly hold the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 as shown in FIG. 24. With this state, the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 is closed. Next, fix the wire 5 to the second catheter 4 with a fix member, not shown in drawings, so as to keep a relative positional relationship between the second catheter 4, the wire 5 and the alienated thrombus capture device 1 generally constant and then draw the second catheter 4, the wire 5 and the alienated thrombus capture device 1 into the sheath 2 at once so as to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device 1.

[0102] Further, it is possible to pay out the alienated thrombus capture device 1 into the blood vessel 71 without using the wire 5. In this case, insert the alienated thrombus capture device 1 into the proximal end portion 3 b of the first catheter 3 through the connector 31 with the ring portion 12 pushed to fold by a finger. Then push the dividing points 121 and 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys of the ring portion 12 that is folded into a wavy shape as shown in FIG. 25 from the proximal end side with the distal end of the second catheter 4, and then the alienated thrombus capture device 1 can be transported to a distal end side of the first catheter 3. In this case, it is preferable that the proximal end portion side of the stiffener portion 11 and the proximal end portion side of the support linear member portion 14 are inserted into the distal end portion 4 b of the second catheter 4. When the pushed alienated thrombus capture device 1 reaches the distal end portion of the first catheter 3, the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is pushed by the second catheter 4 and released from the first catheter 3 to inside the blood vessel 71 by pulling back the first catheter 3 alone. The alienated thrombus capture device 1 released from the first catheter 3 is restored to a spread state by elastic restoration force of the ring portion 12 at the released position. In this case, the second catheter 4 is not necessarily used as a member to transport the alienated thrombus capture device 1, and any solid flexible rod or linear shaped appropriate member, not shown in drawings may be used.

[0103] Further, as shown in FIG. 26, the alienated thrombus capture device 1 having an arrangement wherein a small guide tube 11 d is mounted on a portion at the distal end portion side of the stiffener portion 11 may be used. In this case, a long guide wire 10 as shown in FIG. 27 is used in addition to the above-mentioned transport device A. The guide wire 10 is inserted into the second catheter 4 (omitted to draw in FIG. 27) together with the wire 5 with its distal end portion 10 a side inserted into the guide tube 11 d along the stiffener portion 11. A proximal end portion, now shown in drawings, of the guide wire 10 is exposed to outside the body so as to be operated from outside the body through the sheath 2. Pay out the distal end portion 10 a of the guide wire 10 to a portion where the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is to be arranged in a blood vessel or to an upstream of the portion by operating the proximal end portion of the guide wire 10 so that the first catheter 3 reaches the portion and release the alienated thrombus capture device 1 from the first catheter 3 so as to spread it. The above-mentioned arrangement and the method to transport the alienated thrombus capture device 1 is especially preferable for a case of transporting the alienated thrombus capture device 1 to a peripheral blood vessel away from an aorta.

[0104] An alienated thrombus capture device having other arrangement may be used in addition to the above. A same code will be given to the same component as that of the above-mentioned embodiment and a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0105] For example, an alienated thrombus capture device 100 shown in FIG. 28 has a similar fundamental arrangement to that of the above-mentioned embodiment except that position of the support portions 114 b of the support linear member portions 14 set on the ring portion 12 differs. More specifically, the dividing points 121, 122, 123, 124 of the ring portion 12 are set to generally quadrisect the circumference of the ring portion 12 like the above-mentioned embodiment and the support portions 114 b arranged at positions to hold the dividing points 121 and 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys when the ring portion 12 is folded into a wavy shape are arranged not at middle points between each adjacent dividing points but at positions close to the dividing points 121, 123 from middle points between each of the adjacent dividing points as shown in FIG. 29. In accordance with the arrangement, when the ring portion 12 is folded, an angle of the ring portion 12 that tightly holds the dividing points 121 and 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys facing to a proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 can be made more acute so as to narrow down an opening width of the bursiform portion 13 when folded, thereby to improve reliability of preventing the captured thrombus from spilling out.

[0106] In addition, to the same purpose as that of the alienated thrombus capture device shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, an alienated thrombus capture device 200 shown in FIG. 30 can be represented as an arrangement to narrow an opening width of the opening edge portion of the bursiform portion 13 effectively when the ring portion 212 is folded in order to effectively prevent a captured thrombus from spilling out. The alienated thrombus capture device 200 has four dividing points 2121, 2122, 2123, 2124 on the ring portion 212 like the above embodiment, and is further provided with a pair of project portions 212 a projecting toward a proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 by curving or bending the ring portion 212 partially at the dividing points 2121 and 2123 that form the bottoms of the valleys facing the proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 when the ring portion 212 is folded into a wavy shape as shown in FIG. 31. With this arrangement, it is possible to make a pair of the project portions 212 a and 212 a approach each other, namely the dividing points 2121 and 2123 approach each other when the ring portion 212 is generally completely folded, thereby to narrow an opening width of the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13.

[0107] In addition, it is possible to fold the ring portion in an extremely compact size especially when the alienated thrombus capture device is retrieved from the blood vessel and to effectively prevent the captured thrombus from spilling out of the bursiform portion by devising an arrangement of the support linear member portion and a mode to support the support linear member portion by the ring portion.

[0108] For example, an alienated thrombus capture device 300 shown in FIG. 32 has four support linear member portions 314 like the above embodiment, and each of two pairs of the adjacent support linear member portions 314 are made of two linear members (hereinafter called “the support linear member 314 x”) each of which is made of a single thread or the like. More concretely, both ends of the two support linear members 314 x are fixed to the support portion 314 a arranged on the stiffener portion 11 respectively and each intermediate portion of the support linear members 314 x is supported in a slidably movable manner by the support portion 314 b between the dividing points 122, 124 that form the peaks of the chevrons facing a distal end side when the ring portion 12 is folded. In order to do so it is preferable that each support portion 314 b is so made that the support linear member 314 x can be inserted thereinto by an appropriate means such that a thread is wound around the ring portion 12 in an annular shape and fixed thereto or that the ring portion 12 is partially transformed to form a loop at each support portion 314 b. In other words, each support linear member 314 x forms an isosceles triangle with two support linear members 314 forming equilateral sides and an intermediate portion 314 xa of the support linear member 314 x forming a bottom.

[0109] In addition, an alienated thrombus capture device 400 shown in FIG. 33 has the same arrangement wherein each two pairs of support wire portions 414 comprises support linear members 414 x each of which is made of a thread and both ends of the two support linear members 414 x are fixed to the support portion 414 a set on the stiffener portion 11 like the above-mentioned alienated thrombus capture device 300, however, unlike the alienated thrombus capture device 300 each intermediate portion of the support linear members 414 x is supported in a slidably movable manner by the support portion 414 b between the dividing points 121, 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys facing a proximal end side when the ring portion 12 is folded.

[0110] The alienated thrombus capture device 300, 400 is folded as follows in case that a captured thrombus is captured and retrieved from the blood vessel by the use of the alienated thrombus capture device 300, 400. The blood vessel 71 and the first catheter 3 are omitted to show in the following explanation and drawings. The engage portion 5 c of the wire 5 is in an engaged state with the hook portion 11 a of the stiffener portion 11.

[0111] First, the alienated thrombus capture device 300 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 34, pay out the second catheter 4 toward a distal end, and then the two support linear members 314 x are enclosed in the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 from a support portion 314 a side. At this time, two support linear member portions 314 are gathered together and bound along the stiffener portion 11. Accordingly, each support linear member 314 x makes a sliding movement toward a proximal end side at the support portion 314 b and a length of the intermediate portion 314 xa of the support linear member 314 x between the support portions 314 b and 314 b is gradually shortened. As a result of this, each support portion 314 b between the dividing points 122, 124 that form the peaks of the chevrons of the ring portion 12 are drawn by the intermediate portion 314 xa of the support linear member 314 x. Finally, as shown in FIG. 35, the alienated thrombus capture device 300 is completely folded in a state that the ring portion 12 makes contact at the support portions 314 b between the dividing points 122, 124 and the ring portion 12 tightly holds the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 at the dividing points 121, 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys.

[0112] The alienated thrombus capture device 400 will be shown only in a completely folded state in FIG. 36. In this case, a length of an intermediate portion 414 xa is shortened between the support portions 414 b between the dividing points 121, 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys. As a result, the alienated thrombus capture device 400 is completely folded in a state that the ring portion 12 makes contact at the support portions 414 b and the ring portion 12 tightly holds the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 at the dividing points 121, 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys.

[0113] In other words, since either of the alienated thrombus capture devices 300 and 400 can be folded into an extremely compact size, there is no danger of spilling out the thrombus 9 captured in the bursiform portion 13 and it is possible to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture devices 300 and 400 together with the second catheter 4. The arrangement of the alienated thrombus capture device 300 and that of the alienated thrombus capture device 400 may be combined to use four support linear members, although not shown in drawings, so that the four support linear members are supported by the adjacent two support portions out of the four support portions of the ring portion in a movable manner. In other words, two support linear members are supported by one support portion and each of the two support linear members is supported by a support portion locating at an opposite adjacent portion of the support portion respectively. In accordance with this arrangement, since two pairs of the support portions locating at four positions each of which locates between all the adjacent dividing points are drawn each other by the strained support linear members inserted into the second, the ring portion can be folded into a compact size.

[0114] In addition, a slider portion to bind the support linear member portions may be arranged on the stiffener portion 11 in order to narrow down the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 by folding the ring portion 12 into a further compact size. A slider portion 17 is applied to the alienated thrombus capture device 300 as shown in FIG. 37 in the following explanation, however, the slider portion 17 may be applied to the alienated thrombus capture device 1 in accordance with the above-mentioned embodiment and other modified form.

[0115] The slider portion 17 is a pipe-shaped member made of resin with a bore diameter a little larger than a diameter of the stiffener portion 11 and an external diameter not to be immerged into a lumen of the second catheter 4 and arranged on the stiffener portion 11 between near the support portion 314 a and inside the bursiform portion 13 in a slidably movable manner along the stiffener portion 11 with the stiffener portion 11 inserted thereinto. In order to restrain a movable range of the slider portion 17, a torose stopper portion 18 is arranged at a proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 so that the slider portion 17 does not travel to a proximal end side with climbing over the stopper portion 18. The stopper portion 18 may be provided if necessary, and is not an essential component.

[0116] In order to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device 300 having the slider portion 17 from the blood vessel 71, as shown in FIG. 38, engage the engage portion 5 c of the wire 5 with the hook portion 11 a beforehand and pay out the second catheter 4 so as to push the slider portion 17 toward a distal end side with a distal end of the second catheter 4. Then each support linear member portion 314 is gathered inside the slider portion 17 along the stiffener portion 11 and accordingly a length of the support linear member 314 xa between the support portions 314 b of the ring portion 12 is shortened. As a result, the ring portion 12 is folded into a wavy shape. Further, pay out the second catheter 4 to a distal end side, then the slider portion 17 climbs over a portion where the ring portion 12 is arranged so as to go into inside the bursiform portion 13 and the support linear member portions 314 are gathered into the slider portion 17. As a result, as shown in FIG. 39, the ring portion 12 is folded to a degree that the support portions 314 b each locating at a position between the dividing points 122, 124 that form the peaks of the chevrons facing a distal end side when folded contact and the dividing points 121, 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys tightly hold the second catheter 4. Accordingly, it is possible to fold the ring portion 12 into a further compact size by applying the slider portion 17, thereby to effectively prevent the thrombus 9 from spilling out.

[0117] A following measure may be adopted in order to press the slider portion 17 with the second catheter 4 preferably. In FIG. 40 and FIG. 41, the alienated thrombus capture device 1 in accordance with the above-mentioned embodiment is applied. For example, as shown in FIG. 40 in a magnified manner, a big diameter portion 17 a whose diameter is larger than a diameter of the distal end portion side of the slider portion 17 and larger than an external diameter of the second catheter 4 is formed at a proximal end portion of the slider portion 17. If the distal end of the second catheter 4 makes an abutting contact with the big diameter portion 17 a, it is possible for the slider portion 17 not to immerge into the second catheter 4. It is preferable that the big diameter portion 17 a is formed beforehand with a process, for example, a thread is wound around the proximal end portion of the slider portion 17, a bump is formed with a resin such as an adhesive or a slider portion is so made that its outer diameter differs in the distal end side and the proximal end side and a step is formed at a boundary portion therebetween. In addition, if an external diameter of the distal end portion 4 a of the second catheter 4 is thinned down to the extent of an external diameter of the slider portion 17 as shown in FIG. 41, it is possible for the distal end of the second catheter 4 to make an abutting contact with a proximal end of the slider portion 17 steadily, thereby to push the slider portion 17 preferably.

[0118] An alienated thrombus capture device 500 shown in FIG. 42 may be represented as a preferable form. The alienated thrombus capture device 500 is so made that each of four support linear member portions 514 is made of a single support linear member 514 x respectively and each support linear member 514 x is supported by two adjacent support portions 514 b on the ring portion 12. More specifically, an arrangement of the alienated thrombus capture device 500 is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment in that one end of each support linear member portion 514 x is supported by a support portion 514 a on the stiffener portion 11 and differs in that other end of each support linear member portion 514 x is fixed to a single support portion 514 b and an intermediate portion 514 x is supported in a slidably movable by a support portion 514 b next to the support portion 514 b where the other end of the support linear member portion 514 x is fixed.

[0119] In case that the alienated thrombus capture device 500 is retrieved from the blood vessel, as shown in FIG. 43 like the above-mentioned alienated thrombus capture device 300, 400, pay out the second catheter 4 to the distal end side, then each support linear member portion 514 is gathered inside the second catheter 4 in accordance with a movement of the second catheter 4, the intermediate portion 514 xa makes a sliding movement to the ring portion 12 at the support portion 514 b and the intermediate portion 514 xa of the support linear member 514 x shrinks between the adjacent support portions 514 b. As a result, since the support portions 514 b between the dividing points 122, 124 that form the peaks of the chevron and the dividing points 121, 123 that form the bottoms of the valleys approach each other, the ring portion 12 can be folded into small. In this case also, it is a matter of course that the slider potion 17 can be applied.

[0120] For each of the above-mentioned alienated thrombus capture device the ring portion 12 is in a shape of generally circle in a spread state, however, the ring portion 12 may be in a little wavy shape in a spread state (1 a) corresponding to a folded habit given to the ring portion 12 as shown in FIG. 44. In other words, the alienated thrombus capture device 1 shown in FIG. 44 is the same as that of the embodiment explained at the front, however the ring portion is a little inflected shape due to a habit formed strongly at four dividing points 121, 122, 123, 124 to be the peak of the chevron or the bottom of the valley when folded. As a result, when the ring portion 12 is pushed from outside or the support linear member portions 14 are gathered along the stiffener portion 11 with a tension applied, the ring portion 12 is folded by the external force into a similar shape to that of the above-mentioned embodiment as shown in FIG. 45. Since the ring portion 12 is in the wavy shape in the spread state, it is possible to fold the ring portion 12 into a desired shape extremely easily.

[0121] In addition, reinforcement may be provided as shown in FIG. 46 in order to improve strength of each component. More specifically, a reinforce thread 12 c is spirally wound around the ring portion 12, which makes it possible to reinforce the ring portion 12, thereby to improve a shape retaining characteristics of the ring portion 12. In addition, the opening edge portion 13 a of the bursiform portion 13 may be sewed up to the ring portion 12 with this reinforce thread 12 c. Further, if an auxiliary linear member 15 made of a similar material to that of the support linear member portion 14 is bridged in a strained state between the support portion 14 b on the ring portion 12 and a position on the stiffener portion 11 to which a closed edge portion 13 b of the bursiform portion 13 is mounted, a shape retaining characteristics of the bursiform portion 13 is improved, thereby to stabilize a posture of the ring portion 12. In addition, the support linear member portion 14 and the auxiliary linear member 15 supported by the same support portion 14 b may be made of a single linear member and an intermediate portion of the linear member may be wound to fix to the support portion 14 b on the ring portion 12. If a reinforce thread 16 is spirally wound around the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion 11, it is possible to reinforce the stiffener portion 11 pulled by the wire 5 with strong force. The reinforce thread 12 c, the reinforce linear member 15 and the reinforce thread 16 are an auxiliary component to be used if required, and all of them are not necessarily applied at once and either one or two or more may be applied if necessary.

[0122] In order to achieve a good engaged state of the hook portion 12 a on the stiffener portion 11 and the engage portion 5 c of the wire 5, it is preferable that a slip stopper portion 11 c of a bumpy shape is formed on the hook portion 11 a as shown in FIG. 47. The slip stopper portion 11 c is formed by mounting a bump made of, for example, nickel titanium alloy with its center portion made thick and its peripheral portion made thin on the stiffener portion 11 by an appropriate means such as an adhesive, thereby to improve a state of engaging with or releasing from the projecting portion 5 c 1 at the engage portion 5 c of the wire 5. The slip stopper portion 11 c may have another arrangement and may be a bump formed with a thread wound around the stiffener portion 11.

[0123] In addition, if the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion 11, especially, the hook portion 11 a makes a contact with the inner wall 71 a of the blood vessel 71, it becomes difficult to retrieve the alienated thrombus capture device 1 by hooking the engage portion 5 c of the wire 5 with the hook portion 11 a. As a result, it is preferable that the proximal end portion side of the stiffener portion 11 is enclosed within a range of a diameter of the ring portion 12 that makes a contact with the inner wall 71 a of the blood vessel 71. Then it is preferable that a shank of the stiffener portion 11 extending in a generally straight line generally coincides with the center axis 12 n of the ring portion 12. Then if a posture stabilizing portion 19 in a spirally wound shape is formed on a part of the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion 11, a posture of the stiffener portion 11 at the proximal end side is stabilized. It is a matter of course that the spiral posture stabilizing portion 19 and the hook portion 11 a are required to be in a size smaller than a radius of the ring portion 12 from the center axis of the ring portion 12 and not to be separated from the shank of the stiffener portion 11 at an arbitrary portion.

[0124] In addition to the above, a number of the support linear member portion 14 may be set arbitrary. For example, an alienated thrombus capture device 600 shown in FIG. 49 has two support linear member portions 614. The alienated thrombus capture device 600 has four dividing points 121, 122, 123, 124 that generally quadrisect the circumference of the ring portion 12 like the above embodiment. When the ring portion 12 is folded into a wavy shape with a pair of the facing dividing points 121, 123 forming the bottoms of the valleys facing the proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 and a pair of other dividing points 122, 124 forming the peaks of the chevrons facing the distal end side of the stiffener portion 11 as shown in FIG. 50, support portions 614 b of support linear member portions 614 are set on the dividing points 121, 123 as the bottoms of the valleys respectively. A position of a support portion 614 a of the support linear member-portion 614 is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0125] In addition, an alienated thrombus capture device 700 shown in FIG. 51 has three support linear member portions 614. The alienated thrombus capture device 700 has six dividing points 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126 each of which divides the circumference of the ring portion 12 into six generally equally. When the ring portion 12 is folded into a wavy shape with the every other dividing points 121, 123, 125 forming the bottoms of the valleys facing the proximal end side of the stiffener portion 11 and the other dividing points 122, 124, 126 forming the peaks of the chevrons facing the distal end side of the stiffener portion 11 as shown in FIG. 52, support portions 714 b of support linear member portions 714 are set on the dividing points 121, 123, 125 respectively. A position of a support portion 714 a of the support linear member portion 714 is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0126] The above-mentioned alienated thrombus capture device is separated from the transport device, however, the alienated thrombus capture device may be integrated into the transport device as will be explained next.

[0127] An alienated thrombus capture device 800 shown in FIG. 53 comprises a ring portion 812 having the same arrangement as that of the above-mentioned embodiment, a bursiform portion 813, a support linear member portion 814 and an auxiliary linear member portion 815 and four dividing points 8121, 8122, 8123, 8124 of the ring portion 812 and a support portion 814 b of the support linear member portion 814 are similar to those of the above-mentioned embodiment. Meanwhile, a stiffener portion is integrally formed with a lengthwise wire as an operating member. A portion from a distal end of the wire to a little beyond a support portion 814 a of the support linear member portion 814 is set as the stiffener portion 811 and a portion from a little beyond the support portion 814 a to a proximal end of the wire is set as an operating portion 850. For the alienated thrombus capture device 800 of this arrangement the operating portion 850 plays the same role as that of the wire 5. In other words, a proximal end portion 850 a of the operating portion 850 can be operated from outside the body. As shown in FIG. 54, for example, whole of the alienated thrombus capture device 800 can be transported by paying out or pulling the proximal end portion 850 a into the second catheter 4. The alienated thrombus capture device 800 differs from the above embodiment in that it is impossible to separate the operating portion 850 from the stiffener portion 811 during treatment of detaining an artificial blood vessel and the operating portion 850 always resides in a blood vessel. With this arrangement, stability in a blood vessel, reliability of capturing a thrombus and convenience of transportation can be secured sufficiently.

[0128] As mentioned above, the present claimed invention is embodied by the above-described embodiment, however, it is not limited to the above-described embodiment and there may be various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS IN INDUSTRY

[0129] As mentioned above, the alienated thrombus capture device in accordance with the present claimed invention is useful as a filter device that is high in security, easy to handle and of a simple arrangement and a folding method of this invention secures a stable state that the ring portion is folded and also improves security in transporting the alienated thrombus capture device. 

1. An alienated thrombus capture device comprising a ring portion made of a wire member having foldable elasticity, an flexibly transformable linear stiffener portion that penetrates the ring portion, a porous bursiform portion whose opening edge portion is mounted on the ring portion and whose closed edge portion is mounted on a part of a distal end side of the stiffener portion and an flexibly transformable support linear member portion that is supported between a part of the stiffener portion locating at a proximal end side to the closed edge portion of the bursiform portion and the ring portion in a strained state, and characterized by that the support linear member portion supports the ring portion at least in a spread state with a distance between a support portion for supporting the support linear member portion on the stiffener portion and an arbitrary portion on a circumference of the ring portion kept generally constant.
 2. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 1 and characterized by that comprising multiple of support linear member portions and support portions for supporting each of the support linear member portions are set at equally dividing points each of which generally equally divides the circumference of the ring portion.
 3. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 2 and characterized by that the equally dividing points are points that generally bisect, trisect or quadrisect the circumference of the ring portion.
 4. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 2 and characterized by that the support linear member portions support the ring portion by tensile force acting between the stiffener portion and the ring portion.
 5. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 2 and characterized by that dividing points that generally equally divide the circumference of the ring portion into an even number of four and over are set and the support portions for supporting the support linear member portions are formed at either each of middle points between adjacent dividing points, each of the dividing points or every other dividing points and the ring portion can be folded so that the every other dividing points form peaks of chevrons facing a distal end side of the stiffener portion and every other dividing points adjacent to the dividing points as the peaks of the chevrons form bottoms of valleys facing a proximal end side of the stiffener portion.
 6. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 5 and characterized by that four dividing points are set on the ring portion and the support portions for supporting the support linear member portions are formed at middle points between adjacent dividing points.
 7. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 2 and characterized by that one end portion of the support linear member portion is fixed to the support portion on the stiffener portion and the other end portion of the support linear member portion is fixed to the support portion on the ring portion.
 8. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 2 and characterized by that a pair of adjacent support linear member portions comprise a single flexibly transformable support linear member and both ends of the support linear member are fixed to the support portion on the stiffener portion and an intermediate portion is supported in a slidably movable manner by a pair of adjacent support portions on the ring portion.
 9. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 2 and characterized by that one end portion of the support linear member portion is fixed to the support portion on the stiffener portion and the other end portion is fixed to one of the support portions on the ring portion and an intermediate portion is supported in a slidably movable manner by the support portion at the adjacent portion of the support portion that fixes the other end portion.
 10. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 2 and characterized by that a tubular slider portion into which the stiffener portion is inserted and that is slidably movable along the stiffener portion is arranged on the stiffener portion and the support linear member portions to be enclosed inside the slider portion are gathered along the stiffener portion by moving the slider portion toward a distal end direction of the stiffener portion.
 11. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 10 and characterized by that at a proximal end portion of an outer circumferential wall of the slider portion formed is a big diameter portion whose diameter is bigger than that of a distal end portion of the slider portion.
 12. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 10 and characterized by that a stopper portion that restrains the slider portion from moving to the proximal end side is formed at a position locating at a proximal end side to the support portion for supporting the support linear member portion on the stiffener portion and also locating at a proximal end side to the proximal end portion of the slider portion.
 13. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 1 wherein the alienated thrombus capture device can be detachably mounted on a transport device to transport the alienated thrombus capture device and characterized by that the alienated thrombus capture device is transported by the transport device with directly or indirectly pushing or pulling the proximal end side of the stiffener portion.
 14. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 13 and characterized by that a held portion to be held by the transport device is formed at the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion.
 15. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 14 and characterized by that in case the transport device comprises a hold member having an engage portion of a loop shape that is selectively expandable and shrinkable at its distal end portion, the held portion is formed by partially curving or bending the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion and the held portion is held by the shrunken engage portion after the held portion is hooked with the engage portion with passing the expanded engage portion of the hold member.
 16. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 15 and characterized by that a slip stopper portion that prevents separation from the engage portion by making an engagement with a part of the shrunken engage portion of the hold member is formed on the held portion.
 17. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 15 and characterized by that a maximum distance between a center axis of the ring portion and the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion is set within a radius size of the ring portion.
 18. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 17 and characterized by that a spiral portion whose axial center generally coincides with a center axis of the ring portion by transforming the stiffener portion partially is formed at a distal end side to the held portion on the proximal end portion of the stiffener portion.
 19. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 1 and characterized by that the stiffener portion is integrally formed with or mounted on a part of a transport device for transporting the alienated thrombus capture device.
 20. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 1 and characterized by that the alienated thrombus capture device can be moved by directly operating the proximal end side of the stiffener portion by a user.
 21. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 1 and characterized by that a guide portion is formed by elongating the distal end portion of the stiffener portion toward a distal end side from the closed edge portion of the bursiform portion and partially curving or bending the elongated distal end portion.
 22. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 5 and characterized by that a folded habit to fold the ring portion in a wavy shape by approaching the ring portion to the stiffener portion so that every other dividing points form peaks of chevrons facing the distal end side of the stiffener portion and the dividing points adjacent to the dividing points that form the peaks of the chevrons form bottoms of valleys facing the proximal end side of the stiffener portion is given to the ring portion beforehand.
 23. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 22 and characterized by that the ring portion is in away shape corresponding to the folded habit also in a spread state.
 24. The alienated thrombus capture device described in claim 5 and characterized by that a project portion further projecting to the proximal end side of the stiffener portion is formed at a position to be a bottom of a valley when the ring portion is folded. 